Retrospective clinical follow-up of implants placed in edentulous jaws after computer-guided surgery and immediate loading, in geriatric patients

Abstract

Background: Although there are many works analyzing the clinical behavior of immediate loading of implants inserted by guided surgery, the literature referring specifically to elderly patients is scarce. The aim of this investigation is to present the clinical outcomes of immediate loading of implants inserted by guided surgery in geriatric patients with edentulous maxilla. Material and methods: The clinical data of 20 elderly patients with edentulous jaws are analyzed retrospectively. All were diagnosed with cone beam computed tomography, oral examination, and articulator-mounted models to analyze the intermaxillary relationship. They were treated with 4 to 10 implants by flapless guided surgery with immediate loading. After surgery, the implants were loaded with a temporary acrylic prosthesis and six months later, a definitive full-arch ceramic prosthesis was placed. Results: Twenty patients with an average age of 68.8 years (11 males and 9 females) underwent treatment with a total of 139 implants. Among them, 15 patients (75%) had a history of periodontitis. Ten patients (50%) smoked. Thirteen patients (65%) report a history oof systemic disease. The mean follow-up was 53.1 ± 21.4 months. The clinical outcomes indicated a 100% success rate for the implants. Twenty full-arch fixed maxillary rehabilitations were performed, with an average marginal bone loss of 1.37 mm (S.D. 0.53 mm.) Marginal bone loss was significantly greater for patients with a longer period of clinical follow-up. Peri-implantitis is reported in 17 implants (12.2%) in 8 patients (40%). Four patients (20%) showed some kind of mechanical prosthodontic complications. Conclusions: The present work indicates that treatment with implant-supported fixed full-arch prostheses, in geriatric patients with edentulous jaws and through guided surgery and immediate loading, this implant protocol seems to be a successful.